A sporadic chronicle of the events that concern Dkelsmith and the world around him.

Friday, June 24, 2005

Should Karl Rove Apologize? Should Durbin?

Everyone wants an apology when they get their feathers ruffled, but really, what good does it do? The Republicans want Durbin to apologize, the Democrats want Rove to apologize, but where does it end? The fact of the matter is that all of this bickering in the press accomplishes nothing. I think Democrats hurt themselves by reinforcing the notion that they are touchy-feely when they complain about such things, or when they liken conservatives to Nazis. Conservatives reinforce notions that they are arrogant, short-sighted, and indifferent when they call liberals or people who do not have their viewpoints "Anti-American." The bottom line is that we need the polar struggle in American politics to keep some semblance of stability. I don't think that Rove or Durbin should apologize, but they should make pointed comments, not blanket comments.

In the case of Durbin, he needs to realize that there are Conservatives in Iraq right now that are trying to reinforce the infrastructure of Iraq. In the case of Rove, he should realize that wimpy liberals have engaged in, been wounded in, and in sometimes been killed in firefights and IED attacks in OIF and OEF. The bottom line is, no matter how much partisan politics comes into play, we are Americans and we are the only resource that we have....one another. I am not planning to hum a few bars of Kum-By-Yah, but all of this political banter frustrates me and confuses me.

I have been BOG (Boots On Ground) in Iraq, Saudi, and Kuwait, and I will more than likely spend this upcoming Christmas in Afghanistan, so I do get a little resentful when someone paints me with a wide brush and calls me wimpy for the side of the aisle I vote on. I may disagree, but I play ball for the team. In one way or another we all do.

Monday, June 20, 2005

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's day to all those it applies to. Unfortunately I am away from my Father today. I am also away from my kids.....the military seems to have a funny sense of humor in regard to that. I have missed my last three Anniversaries, my wife's last two birthdays, the last two father's days, and my daughter's second birthday because of duty. Maybe next year I will be home more.

Saturday, June 04, 2005

I think Lashawn Barber got it wrong this time....

Everyone has been talking about the latest report from Amnesty International, the prison scandal, and the Koran desecration scandal in Cuba, and everyone seems to have a different opinion. Lashawn Barber is a conservative blogger who is tired of all of the press surrounding the scandal. In that regard I agree with her, I am not only tired of, but fearful of the attention that this brings. Lashawn seems to feel that kowtowing to the outcries from the different Muslim groups, or spending time investigating our military is a waste of time and shows some inherent weakness. She also says it speaks to the fact that liberalism is a mental disorder.

I'm now convinced that liberalism is a mental disorder.

Another one of the quotes that she uses is,

Despite what they may say, Muslims are and have always been on a mission to conquer and kill infidels. They've been doing it for centuries and will continue until we're all dead, or they're all dead, or the world ends, whichever comes first. We need to get over ourselves and focus on stopping the spread of Islamofacism. Period. Save civility and Koran 'handling' for less perilous times.

I disagree, there is no more serious time to save civility than right now. We need to show the world that the ultimate end to our endeavors in the Middle East is to make the world a safer place. We have to do that now regardless of whether or not people agreed with our original reasons for going to war. Now is the time to take a watchful eye and evaluate what we do, and how we do it. Yes we are people of action, but we must make sure that actions are reflective of our basic principles.

I don't feel that the majority of Iraqis are out to kill Americans, but there is obviously a significant portion that are. I don't think that Muslims want to kill everyone who is not a follower of Islam, but there are a lot who are. Even in the face of the dangers that our soldiers face on a day to day basis, we must hold ourselves to the same standards that we expect everyone else to adhere to.

But, if Barber cannot wrap herself around the idea that while a hardline American stance is great for John Wayne movies, it is impractical when dealing with other cultures, then she ought to know that the global coverage of these stories tend to inflame the situations that our Soldiers face on a day to day basis. I haven't had as much schooling as Lashawn Barber, I will readily admit that I don't write as well as she does, and I probably haven't studied the issues as much as she has, so I don't pretend to be some political pundit. But I have been on the ground when shots were fired in Iraq and Kuwait. Most likely I will be celebrating Christmas in Afghanistan this year, so if a little civility keeps me from having to deal with a rabidly incensed crowd of angry Muslims, then I don't think that is too much to ask. Do your bit to help...don't make the situation worse. Don't give the media anything to report.

I believe in my Christian faith, my Country, what it stands for, and the need to defend its interests. I do this thinking about my own family. (As cliche as it sounds a wife and three kids) But I do know that there is probably a man whose convictions are equally as strong as mine, who loves his faith and family just as much as I do mine on the other side of this conflict. As much as I want all of this conflict to be over, I actually dread meeting him. I'll still do my job if I have to even though it doesn't sound very John Wayne. I guess it is just my liberal mental disorder.....